An overview article on the various international, regional and local forces deployed in the region, the Sahel, but Mali features strongly so added here.

I had missed this:
Separately, Germany is shortly to open a military base in Niger to support MINUSMA, while Italy has announced it will sent 470 troops to the country to counter people-smuggling and combat extremism.
Link:http://www.irinnews.org/analysis/201...erations-sahel

However the author's credibility is marred by labeling the first photo as French soldiers when they are clearly from Mali.